EU working with ATPU on counter-terrorism prevention

16.09.2019

Under the EU Regional Law Enforcement project for Horn of Africa and Yemen, the EU organised a workshop for senior officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit

From 2 to 6 September 2019, the EU-financed Regional Law Enforcement project - Horn of Africa & Yemen organised a workshop for a group of senior officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) of Kenya.  The event took place at the International Peace Support Training Centre in Karen - Nairobi.  The agenda of the meeting was to discuss counter-terrorism prevention strategies and approaches.

 

Alan Little and Craig McCann, two law enforcement and counter-terrorism veterans, presented experiences and lessons learned from the fight against terrorism in the United Kingdom (UK) during the past fifteen years. 

 

The seminar listened to a presentation informing that the London bombings of July 2005 helped persuade the UK government that more needed to be done to strengthen the resilience of society to violent extremism and terrorism.  The police and law enforcement agencies needed the support of others in society in order to address issues of potential radicalisation at an early stage.  .

 

This resulted in partnerships with civil society organisations which are working in London and other cities to support young people that could be vulnerable to gangs, drugs or radicalisation.  The organisations undertake activities designed to create an environment in which difficult issues can be discussed openly;

 

This 'whole-of-society' approach to countering terrorism has proven useful both in the UK and in other countries around the world in addressing the potential threat of extremism at an early point. 

 

The EU Regional Law Enforcement project - Horn of Africa and​ Yemen is working with Kenya and other partner countries in the Horn of Africa to discuss a range of counter-terrorism related issues.  The project is implemented by a European Consortium led by FIIAPP of Spain, including furthermore Sustainable Criminal Justice Solutions of the UK and Civipol Conseil of France.